“So what’s up?” Alonzo asked. “This shit has to end somehow…” Alonzo took a hit of his cigarette. “Brother.”“Shut the fuck up!” Dre screamed. “ Don’t call me that. Just because we are related doesn’t mean I will spare your life!” Zettie glanced at Dre and chuckled.

Yonny hopped back into the car and raced to his job to explain to his boss what was going on. When he arrived, he got out of the taxi and sprinted to George’s office.“George let me explain.” Yonny shouted anxiously. “I don’t want to hear it.” George replied. “ Give me your keys and cell phone!” Yonny flipped George’s desk.

“What the fuck are we going to use her for anyways?” Derrick asked, Becky shrugged her shoulders. “ She will be dead weight!” Derrick shouted. Silence engulfed the hotel room for a moment; Harlem’s heart began to race. “She could be a house maid.” Becky announced, Derrick burst into laughter.“Yeah?” He replied. “Who will teach her how to clean?” Derrick asked, Becky glanced at Harlem.“I will.” Becky replied.

​“Are we going into the bank or what?” Trina asked, Alonzo knodded.“One sec…” Alonzo replied, Trina screw faced Alonzo. “ I have a proposition for Dre.” Alonzo could hear Big Pie smack her teeth through the phone.“What you mean?” Big Pie asked, Alonzo chuckled. “I was talking to my brother, not you!” Alonzo shouted. “I’m trying to make some money!” Pronto sighed. Pump pulled out a bag of weed. “Can I roll now?” Pump asked. “Not yet.” Zettie replied. “ We have to finish this conversation first.”

31

“I knew it!” Yolanda exclaimed. “ I never should have trusted you!” Yolanda tried to break free of the correctional officers’ grip; Rita chuckled. “Fuck you bitch!” Rita replied. “Like I said, I don’t fucking know you!” Rita screamed. Riley, the head warden of the prison, approached the group. “What’s going on here? Riley asked. “They were fighting.” Fred declared. Yolanda and Rita looked at Fred with disgust. “Separate them until their cases clear.” Riley ordered. The correctional officers dragged Yolanda and Rita to different cells and locked them in.

“What’s the plan?” Dre asked, Alonzo smiled from ear to ear. “You teach me how to sell drugs, and I pay you back the money you lost from Yolanda going to jail.” Alonzo replied, Dre chuckled. “Yeah right!” Zettie interrupted. “How do we know Dre will get paid?” He asked. “You have my word.” Alonzo replied. “How do we know we can trust you?” Pronto asked. “He’s my brother, now that I know, I will never do him wrong.” Alonzo replied.

George got in Yonny’s face. So you want to be a tough guy?” George asked. “Just because I fired you?” Yonny spit in George’s face. “Fuck you!” Yonny said as he took his tag off and threw the keys at George. “I don’t need this” Yonny exclaimed. “Good riddens” George exclaimed, Yonny slammed the door as he exited George’s office.

“I’m going outside for a smoke!” Derrick announced as he left the hotel room. Becky sat on the bed next to Harlem. “It will be okay.” Becky declared. “I will make sure you are safe.” Becky embraced Harlem. “What’s your name anyways?“Harlem.” She declared, Becky smiled. “Harlem.” Becky repeated. “That’s a nice name.” Becky reached out for Harlem’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Harlem.” Becky stated as she shook Harlem’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Harlem replied.

!Shit is getting REAL. SEE YOU SOON :)!

​Yonny’s phone rang. It was his boss George. “Hello?” Yonny said as he answered the phone.“Why the fuck are you at Bradford Regional Medical Center?” George shouted. “You know I have GPS on that cab!” Anger consumed Yonny’s heart. “My girlfriend slit her wrist, you fucking jackass!” Yonny exclaimed, tears flooded down his cheeks. Tom, whom was the receptionist in the Emergency Room, stood up. “Sir, keep your voice down.” Tom ordered. Yonny rolled his eyes.“Alright.” He replied. Tom sat back down at his desk.

Zettie pulled up to Pump. “Get in.” Zettie ordered through the driver’s window. Pump knodded, got into the back and they pulled off.“So what you got?” Big Pie asked. “5 bricks and an ounce of weed…” Pump replied. Zettie screamed out of frustration!“That’s all you got?” Dre asked. “Yeah…” Pump replied. Big Pie shook her head in disgust. “We’re fucked.” Big Pie interrupted, and suddenly, Dre’s phone rang…

“Ahhh!” Harlem screamed at the top of her lungs as she ran out of the hotel room. “Where are you going little girl?” Derrick, whom was smoking a cigarette outside of the hotel room he rented asked. Harlem stopped in her tracks. “My daddy left me here!” Harlem shouted as she burst into tears. “Come with me, and we’ll see if we can find him.” Derrick replied, with a maleficent smerk on his face. Harlem followed Derrick into the hotel room and he shut the door.

29

“Hello?” Dre said as he answered his IPhone. Alonzo put him on speaker phone, and Darren turned the music down as they pulled into M & T Bank parking lot. “So, the whole time you knew you were my brother?” Alonzo asked. “Yes, and I don’t give a fuck!” Dre exclaimed. ‘ You snitched on my mom. Ain’t no forgiving that.”

Rita tackled Yolanda to the floor and banged her head against the concrete. The correctional officers sprinted over to break up the fight. “Get off of her!” They shouted as they yoked Rita and Yolanda up.“Fuck you bitch!” Yolanda screamed, Rita spit in her face.

“Yonny?” Dr. Smith stated. Yonny hopped up and jogged over to him.“Yes?” Yonny stated. “She will be okay, however she won’t be leaving here today.” Dr. Smith replied. “Why not? “ Yonny asked with a confused look on his face. “Did you know there was a warrant for her arrest in New York State?” Dr. Smith asked. “What, no!” Yonny screamed. “For what?” “Child endangerment.” Dr. Smith replied. Yonny’s eyes widened. “Well can I see her?’ Yonny asked. “No.” He replied. “She’s being shipped to Erie County Holding Center.“Ahhhhh!” Yonny exclaimed out of frustration

“So, where did your dad say he was going?” Derrick asked. Harlem twiddled her thumbs. “I don’t know. They just left.” Harlem replied, tears beginning to resurface. Becky, whom was Derrick’s bottom bitch, smacked her teeth. “That’s horrible!” Becky declared. “Don’t worry, we will take care of you.” “Who said that? I’m not playing daddy, I just don’t want her out here all alone.” Derrick replied. “Can’t we keep her? She is so adorable.” Becky asked. “No!” Derrick shouted. “We’re going to find her parents, then she’s out of here.” He declared. Becky frowned. “Her parents don’t care about her!” She shouted. “Yousee they left her at the hoe motel…”

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!

26

​Yolanda waved one of the correctional officers over to them. When he got close enough, they read his name-tag.“Hi, Fred.” Yolanda said, smiling from ear to ear.“What do you want?” Fred asked, unfazed by Yolanda’s fake kindness. Yolanda sighed.“We wanted to know when we can use the phone.” Rita interrupted. “I want to call my lawyer.”“Me too.” Yolanda added. Fred shook his head.“Neither of you are allowed phone calls until the cases clear.” Fred answered. “We will schedule a time for you to meet with your lawyers in person later on today.” He took out his notepad, scribbled something on the sheet and put it back in his pocket. “Is there anything else I can help you with today?” Fred asked. “Nope. That’s all, thanks!” Rita replied. Fred knodded and walked away. “I ain’t know you was serious about that shit!” Rita whispered. Yolanda smiled.“You don’t know me!” Yolanda replied. “Everyone that rocks with me knows I don’t play no games. If I say I will do something, I will!” Rita giggled.“Terrible.” Rita declared.

​“Help!” Meri screamed as she elevated Alonzo’s head. The firefighters rushed over and managed to get Alonzo to wake up. He was embarrassed, but okay. “Thanks.” Alonzo stated as the firemen walked away. Jasmine Reed The Author sprinted towards them, “Are you okay?” Jasmine asked. Alonzo knodded.“Yes. Thanks for checking up on me, sexy.” Alonzo replied, Jasmine smiled.“Maybe we should go.” Meri suggested as she rolled her eyes.

“What the fuck?” Yonny exclaimed as he collapsed to the floor. He grabbed Tonya’s wrist. “Why would you do this!” Yonny took his shirt off, ripped a sleeve and tied Tonya’s arm up to stop the bleeding. “Answer me!” He screamed, Tonya shook her head. Yonny lifted Tonya up and ran to the taxi, placing her in the passenger seat. “ I hope you’re ready.” Yonny announced as he pulled off. “ We are going to the hospital in Bradford PA. That’s the closest one.” He said as they hit the expressway.

27

​“Yeah let’s go.” Alonzo replied. ‘John, ride with us so we can talk more.” Alonzo ordered. John took another hit of his cigarette.“I can’t” John replied. “I paid for a booth this year. I will tell you the rest tomorrow, just come to my bar.” John flicked his cigarette. “Now if you will excuse me…” John said as he walked towards his booth. “We need to go cash those checks.” Alonzo declared. “Let’s do it.” Trina replied.

“Slow the fuck down!” Big shouted. “You trying to go the speed of light?” She asked. Everyone burst into laughter. “Once we get closer to Buffalo we can slow down.” Zettie replied.“So we not going after Alonzo anymore?” Pronto asked.“No.” Dre answered. “We need to worry about not getting caught!” Dre exclaimed. Pronto and the goons shook their head. “SMH” Pronto replied.

“How long do you think it will take for you to break out of here?” Rita asked.“No more than a month.” Yolanda replied.“How the fuck do you know!” Rita screamed. “What if we get caught trying to break out?”

“Help her! Help her please!” Yonny shouted as he carried Tonya into the emergency room. The medical personnel put her onto a stretcher and wheeled her to the back. Yonny was forced to sit in the waiting room. His entire world was falling apart, right before his eyes!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!

24

"Pass me that weight.” Rita said. Yolanda screw faced her.“Get it yourself.” Yolanda replied. Rita rolled her eyes, got up and picked up the dumb-bell.“You know, we’re going to be in prison for awhile…” Rita stated. “Better start buffing up.” Yolanda sighed and crossed her legs.“Shit, not me!” Yolanda replied. “I’m going to find a way to break out of here.” Rita smacked her teeth. “Yeah right.” Rita replied. “How do you plan on doing that?” “Easy.” Yolanda said. “Just gotta get close to one of these guards, have them bring me some street clothes and we are golden.”

​“That night Yolanda called me 1,591 times.” John replied.“You kept count?” Darren asked.“Yes.” John answered. “I just kept ignoring it. You know? I was thinking she was just another hoe gone mad…” John lit a cigarette and took a hit. “Check out 716 Live!” Jasmine Reed The Author announced as she handed Alonzo and Meri a flyer.” “Thanks.” Meri replied. “Hey, can I be in the next magazine?” Trina asked. “Sure.” Jasmine Reed The Author handed them a business card. “We always support local talent. See you guys later, I have to work the festival.” John stared at Jasmine’s butt as she walked away.“Just how I like ‘em.” John stated. “Fit, chocolate, deluxe…” “Back to the story John!” Alonzo shouted. John took another hit of his Newport.

​Zettie looked at the caller ID on his phone. Ironically, it was Pump, the guy who helped him rape Tonya. Zettie’s heart began to race.“Hello?” He said as he answered the phone.“Somebody snitched on us!” Pump exclaimed. “I know it was that bitch Tonya!” “What happened?” “Dude, somebody raided the fucking house and everyone in there went to jail.” Pump replied. Zettie sighed and shook his head.“So what now? Where are you?” Zettie asked. “I’m in Cold Springs.” Pump replied. “Come get me!”

25

​Yonny got up from the kitchen table and knocked on the bedroom door… “Can I come in?” Yonny asked.“No!” Tonya shouted. “Leave me the fuck alone.” Yonny sighed.“Why are you acting like this? I have done nothing to you. I just asked you a simple question…” “I don’t want to fucking talk about it!” Tonya screamed.“Wow. I’m gone, you’re fucking nuts.” Yonny replied. Tonya hopped up, ran to the door and unlocked it. Yonny opened the door and was surprised to find blood all over the floor. Tonya collapsed into his arms.

“What’s up Zettie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost…” Dre asked. Zettie shook his head and banged his fist against the steering wheel. “The house got raided.” Zettie replied. Dre’s eyes widened and silence engulfed the car.

“But I never would of thought she would kill your mom.” John declared. Alonzo burst into tears. “So where was Vickie going?” Meri asked.“All of her stuff was gone when we went to the house…” Darren added.“I don’t know but I can show you the last message Vickie sent me.” John replied as he pulled out his cell phone. Everyone gathered around… The message read: “ You can have that bitch Yolanda! I hope Alonzo’s retarded brother Dre fucks you over like he did me.” Alonzo passed out.

Zettie did a U-Turn. “Where the hell we going now?” Big Pie asked. “To Cold Springs.” Zettie replied. “We have to get Pump, see what drugs he has and get the fuck out of Buffalo before the cops find us too!” Zettie turned the music up as he hit 90 miles per hour.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!

22“Where’s my mommy?” Harlem asked Big Pie. “Out being a hoe.” Big Pie replied, Harlem stared at her blankly. “What’s a hoe?” Harlem asked.“People who have sex for cash.” Big Pie answered. “Anything else you want to know, little nuisance?” Big Pie asked. Pronto chuckled and shook his head.“Fucking her head up EARLY.” Pronto stated. Everyone burst into laughter. Suddenly they heard a knock on the door. “Let us in.” Dre ordered. Big Pie opened the hotel room door and Dre walked in followed by Zettie. “What’s up Zettie?” Pronto asked as they slapped each other up. Zettie sat down atthe desk. “So what’s going on Dre?” Zettie asked. “Why are we gathered here today?” Dre giggled.“I need you to take us to Alleghany State Park to pick up that bitch Tonya.” Dre stated. Zettie’s eyes widened. “You talking about your baby moms?” Zettie asked. “What happened now?”“Long story short, she cool with the nigga that snitched on my mom.” Dre replied, Zettie let out a sigh of relief. “All we have to do is kidnap her and Alonzo will come running like a Drake ass nigga.” Pronto stated.“Cool with me.” Zettie replied. “Let’s do this.” Everyone got up, exited the hotel room and pulled off leaving Harlem alone. “I want my mommy!” Harlem screamed at the top of her lungs as she burst into tears.

“Damn!” Darren exclaimed. “It’s so fucking hard to find close parking down here! What the fuck!” Trina burst into laughter.“Calm down.” Meri stated. “You know damn well its hard to find close parking at Juneteenth. Just park on Fillmore and we can walk down.”“Okay.” Darren replied.

Yonny held the door open for Tonya as they entered the cabin, still hot from the shower they took together. They sat down next to each other at the kitchen table and Tonya lit a cigarette. Yonny pulled out some Kush and started breaking it down. “I have a grinder you know.” Tonya said, Yonny giggled. “I know, I just don’t like to use grinders.” Yonny replied.“Why not?” Tonya asked. “When you use a grinder, it breaks down the weed way too fine…Then when you go to smoke the dutch, you’re sucking weed particles instead of smoke.” Yonny replied. Tonya shrugged her shoulders.“Hey, different strokes I guess….” Tonya said as she opened a bottle of Henny.

23

“Yes! I can finally get some Shea Butter.” Meri announced as she got out of the car followed by Darren, Trina and Alonzo. They could hear the band playing as they neared the festival. “Oh shit!” Trina exclaimed. “That’s the owner of Love’s Bar!” Meri’s eyes widened. “That is him!” Meri replied. “Let’s run over there and ask him if he knows more information about Vickie’s death…” All four ran over to him, excited to finally get some answers. “John!” Trina shouted as she embraced him eagerly. “Hey Trina. Where the hell you been?” John replied as he released his grip. “Your customers miss you.” “That’s not important!” Alonzo interrupted. “What do you know about my mother Vickie’s death?” He asked. John shook his head in disgust. “Yolanda is nuts!” John replied. “ I told her we were never a fucking couple!” “What the hell does that mean?” Darren asked. “Get to the point!” “When she found out I was pimping your mother, she got jealous and tried to run Vickie over with her car that night you guys got into that fight.” John replied. “I told Vickie to watch out for Yolanda, but she brushed it off like it was nothing.” “And then what?” Meri asked. John sighed and wiped the sweat off of his forehead.

“Damn how long is it going take for us to get there?” Big Pie asked. Dre, whom was in the front seat, rolled his eyes.“Alleghany State Park is still an hour away.” Zettie replied, Dre turned to Zettie.“Don’t mind her, the suspense is unreal, that’s all.” Dre announced, Pronto and the goons chuckled. “This a nice whip you got here.” Big Pie declared. “It’s not many people in Buffalo with a limo.” Pronto lit the blunt and passed it to Big Pie.“Thanks.” Zettie replied. “ I have five vehicles, but this is my favorite. Drug dealing pays well.” Everyone burst into laughter, then suddenly, Zettie’s phone rang…

“So, tell me more about yourself.” Yonny said as he poured another shot of Henny.“Long story short, I’m a hoe.” Tonya replied, Yonny screw faced her. “Why do you choose to talk about yourself like that?” Yonny asked, Tonya burst into tears. “That’s all I know!” She screamed. “If only you knew what the fuck I been through…” She wiped the tears from her face. “ Then you would understand!” Tonya ran into the room and slammed the door shut, leaving Yonny alone in the kitchen.